The NFL Draft is this weekend, where the future hopes and dreams of young men will be determined. The draft has become a giant event, thanks to the marketing machine that is the NFL. There already is around the clock coverage with projections, analysis, and of course, upside. While Chris Berman will let you know what will happen seconds before it actually does, we figure we should get you ready for what you will see. So you're prepared for, well, for the upside.After five seasons in a Longhorn uniform Selvin Young will move on, leaving a legacy that never really established itself. Coming in as a freshman backup to Cedric Benson and a return man out of Houston, Young quickly showed great potential with speed and shiftiness that made him the heir apparent to Cedric Benson. However, torn down by a broken ankle, Young came back and struggled to find his role within a crowded backfield. He never became that feature back that was expected of him, but by his senior year he had established himself into a dual role with Jaamal Charles and proved to be a nice compliment to the speedy Charles as a reliable blocker, receiver out of the backfield, and a back not afraid to run in between the tackles.
Coming into the draft Young projects to be exactly what he was in college, a situational back that can provide solid play and possibly a quality return man. He looks like he will have to find a niche as a solid return man or special teamer, that can be used on third downs as a blocker and a reliable pass option out of the backfield. Young will never be a feature back and will never wow anyone with his athletic ability. Ideally, Young would be delighted to make a roster and spend a few seasons as a special teamer and a backup before breaking through into a contributing role. He could possibly become a player like Brian Mitchell, or a player that is out of the league very quickly.
Throughout workouts he has shown good hands, and a solid understanding of blocking schemes. With average size and speed he will need to make it in the League by being solid technically and a contributor in a wide variety of areas. At 5'11" and 217 pounds and a 4.6 forty, he's not an athlete or a physical specimen. He could become a solid return specialist and contributor on special teams which should improve his chances of being drafted. There are questions about his durability, as he has been injured on and off since his ankle surgery that cost him his sophomore season.
Young ranks as the 20th best back according to
http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/ and would be lucky to get drafted. He will either be a 6th or 7th round pick, or he will have to try and make it as an undrafted free agent. He will most likely get invited to camp by some team as a free agent, and should be able to get a shot to catch on with a team out of camp provided he can stay healthy through mini camps and preseason, and impress with limited opportunities.
